Interdisciplinary Studies
Degree Requirements
Students earning a B.A. in interdisciplinary studies must meet the following requirements:
- Satisfactory completion of 124 credit-hours of college-level work as specified below
- Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 45 credit hours of upper-division work of which 30 credit hours must be taken at SUNYIT
- Achievement of a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at SUNYIT
- A grade of C or better in all courses in the IDS Program (core courses, methods, capstone, and area of concentration)
- A grade of C or better in COM 308 or an approved alternative
- A maximum of 30 credits in professional and technical (i.e., non-liberal arts and sciences) courses
Credit Summary, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies
| General Education Requirements | 38-48 credits |
| Program Requirements | 52-60 credits |
| Electives | 16-34 credits |
| Total | 124 credits |
Detailed Course of Study
I. General Education Requirements (38-48 Credits)
Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in the ten SUNY General Education requirement silos. In addition, students must satisfy SUNYIT requirements by completing the laboratory science and upper-division writing requirements.
| SUNY General Education Requirements | |
| Mathematics |
3-4 credits
|
| Natural Science |
3-4 credits
|
| Social Sciences |
3-4 credits
|
| American History |
3-4 credits
|
| Western Civilization |
3-4 credits
|
| Humanities |
3-4 credits
|
| Arts |
3-4 credits
|
| Foreign Language |
3-4 credits
|
| Basic Communication |
3-4 credits
|
| SUNYIT General Education Requirements | |
| Laboratory Science |
3-4 credits
|
| Upper Division Writing (COM 308 or approved alternative) |
3-4 credits
|
II. Interdisciplinary Studies Program Requirements
Area of Concentration (20-28 credits)
Students must complete 20-28 credits, depending on the option selected, in an area of concentration chosen by the student.
Option A Area of Concentration (20 credits)
Students must complete 20 credits in an area of concentration of their choice. Students may choose their area of concentration from among any of the program majors, minors, or program concentrations offered at SUNYIT, as well as from some additional fields. Students are required to demonstrate that they have attained depth of knowledge in their area of concentration by taking a minimum of 8 credits at the 300/400 level.
Option B Area of Concentration (28 credits)
Students with specialized curricular interests may opt to design a 28-credit individualized program of study, to be developed in consultation with their faculty advisor and approved by the interdisciplinary studies faculty.
Interdisciplinary Studies Program Core (24 credits)
Students must complete 8 credits in each of the three areas of inquiry that define the IDS program core, with a minimum of 4 credits in each area of inquiry completed at the 300/400 level. Students must complete at least one course in each area of inquiry carrying the Critical Studies in Technology (CST) designation.
A. Histories and Systems of Thought: Explores the development and significance of major intellectual and cultural themes that shape the way we think about the world. Themes include the development and influence of technological ways of thinking and systems of thought.
IDS 201 Perspectives on Knowledge
IDS 204 Understanding Human Nature
IDS 400 Prominent Themes in Western Civilization Since the Renaissance (CST)
B. Social and Political Contexts: Examines the interrelationships between social and political contexts and social practices: i.e., how social and political contexts shape social practices, and how social, political, and technical practices articulate, express, and shape (and challenge, resist, and reconfigure) social relations, including relations of power. Includes the examination of how technologies articulate sociopolitical practices, and how technological developments shape and reshape the contexts of social practice.
IDS 103 Science, Technology, and Human Values (CST)
IDS 203 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society (CST)
IDS 304 Technology in American History (CST)
HIS 375 Gender Issues in World History
C. Cultural Analysis and Interpretation: Examines forms and modes of cultural expression and develops the analytical and interpretive practices for building a critical understanding of the cultural environment, the ways in which cultural objects articulate social and historical contexts, and the ways in which cultural practices shape subjectivity and social relations. Includes the study of how technologies have shaped representational and cultural practices, and the critical analysis and interpretation of representations of technology.
IDS 102 Art and Culture
IDS 301 Monsters, Robots, Cyborgs (CST)
IDS 302 Postmodernism and Popular Culture (CST)
IDS 435 Art and Technology (CST)
Capstone Sequence (8 credits)
Students must demonstrate skills in research and critical inquiry, together with mastery and integration of their chosen area of concentration with the IDS program core, by completing the methods and capstone project course.
IDS 410 Research and Critical Methods
IDS 499 Interdisciplinary Studies Project
III. Electives (16-34 credits)
Students must complete the balance of the 124 required credits in college-level courses in any discipline carrying SUNYIT or transferable credit.